Hey everyone, so I got this wild idea the other day to try and remake the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, specifically the 5738R model. You know, the one that’s all sleek and fancy with the rose gold and black dial? Yeah, that one. I’ve always been a fan of Patek Philippe, and the Golden Ellipse, with its unique shape, just really speaks to me. I mean, it’s inspired by the “golden section,” that ratio ancient Greek mathematicians were obsessed with. How cool is that?
First things first, I had to gather my materials. It’s not like I have 18k rose gold laying around, but I did my best to find something that could mimic that luxurious look. I also needed to figure out the dial. I learned that the official version has this black grand feu cloisonne enamel dial with hand-engraved volutes and arabesques. That’s a mouthful, right? I figured I’d try to recreate that intricate design as best as I could. No way I could do the enamel part, but I thought I could at least try and sketch the pattern.
- Gathering Inspiration: I spent hours looking at pictures of the 5738R online. Every angle, every detail, I wanted to soak it all in. It’s seriously a beautiful watch.
- Sourcing Materials: Like I said, no 18k rose gold for me. But I found some materials that could kind of give off a similar vibe. For the dial, I just grabbed some black paper and a fine-tipped pen.
- Sketching the Design: This was the fun part. I tried my best to copy those hand-engraved patterns onto the black paper. It’s not perfect, but I think it captures the essence of the design.
Getting into the Nitty-Gritty
Next up was tackling the movement. Now, the original has this Calibre 240 automatic movement, which is way out of my league. I just focused on the visual aspect for this project. I found some images of the movement online and tried to draw a simplified version of it. It’s not accurate, but it adds a little something extra to the whole thing.
Then came the case. The Golden Ellipse has this distinctive elliptical shape, which is a big part of its charm. I used some cardboard to try and recreate that shape. It took a few tries to get it right, but I think I managed to capture the essence of the ellipse. I even tried to mimic the dimensions of the real 5738R, which is not a huge watch, but it has a definite presence.
Putting It All Together
Once I had all the pieces, it was time to assemble my “masterpiece.” I glued the dial onto the cardboard case and added my drawing of the movement to the back. I even tried to create a makeshift strap using some fabric I had lying around. It’s definitely not a perfect replica, but it’s my little homage to the Golden Ellipse.
I know it’s not the real deal, and it will probably never find a place on Chrono24 among other ref. 5738/1R-001 watches. But hey, I had a blast making it. It was a fun little project that let me appreciate the design and craftsmanship of the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse even more. Plus, it’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s not about having the most expensive materials or the most advanced tools. It’s about the passion and the effort you put into something. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of that “divine” proportion!
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